Endosulfan victims firm on their protest on June 7

Endosulfan victims will be going ahead with the protest at Freedom Park in Bangalore on June 7 demanding proper relief and compensation from the State government.

Victims under the aegis of Endo Virodhi Horata Samiti will be leaving in as many as 30 buses. “Persons joining this protest are all those who have lost hopes to live because of the suffering. It includes me, too,” said Sridhar Gowda, the association’s president and an endosulfan victim. Mr. Gowda told reporters on Tuesday that he had to postpone protest from May 21 to June 7 following a request by Health Minister U.T. Khader and Forest Minister Ramanath Rai. Mr. Gowda said they had sought week for the government to look into the association’s demands.

Mr. Gowda said the State government has so far not announced any compensation and relief to 1,904 persons identified with disabilities in endosulfan sprayed areas in the district. Mr. Gowda said the Health Department has failed to create facilities for taking care of endosulfan victims who are bedridden. Their fight so far has not yielded desired result.

Asked whether the association will succeed with this protest, Mr. Gowda said, “I do not know what will be the result. We want a definite answer from the State Government,” he said.

Mr. Gowda also sought funds from people to meet the expenses of the protest.